Free Pattern: Layla Ladybug Low-Sew Amigurumi

Julia Simpson

January 7, 2024

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Happy New Year! I took a break from pattern designing for most of 2023, and instead I started doing local craft markets and selling my finished toys. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed it! I discovered I love making cuddly toys from jumbo chenille yarn – it’s all the rage these days, and I can see why. It’s a bit of a pain to work with at times (it sheds everywhere!), but it’s sooo soft and squishy. I got tons of kids coming up to my table at each event, and it was really rewarding seeing how much they liked my creations. 🙂

I’m getting back to pattern designing now, and first off I wanted to try my hand at a simple and cuddly low-sew pattern aimed at market sellers. With Spring approaching in a few months, I decided to make a Spring-themed animal – and ladybugs came to mind, with their association to flowers and gardens. This cute little ladybug would be a great addition to your Spring markets – pair her with some flowers and bees and make a garden display! The pattern is easy and works up really quickly in chenille yarn, plus the only sewing required is to sew on the head. Great for market prep! You could make her in thinner yarn, too, and she would be a super cute keychain.

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Layla Ladybug Low-Sew Amigurumi Pattern

Layla Ladybug is an adorable squishy toy, perfect for a Springtime gift or craft market! She is made from soft chenille yarn and works up quickly, with limited sewing required.

Skill Level

Beginner

Finished Dimensions

Approx. 6″ long

Supplies Needed

Jumbo weight/#7 chenille yarn (Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles or similar): Red (10 yds), black (10 yds)
Size J / 6.00mm crochet hook – I recommend the ergonomic Clover Amour hooks
Two 12mm black safety eyes or googly eyes

Fiberfill stuffing
Yarn needle
Scissors & pins

Stitch marker – I recommend locking stitch markers

Terms & Abbreviations

All details below are based on US crochet terms.

Mc: Magic Circle
Ch: Chain

Sl: Slip Stitch
Sc: Single Crochet
Inc: Increase

Dec: Decrease – I recommend using the Invisible Decrease
BLO: Crochet in the back loops only

Pattern Notes

You will be working in a continuous spiral throughout. Use a stitch marker and do not join rounds or turn (unless otherwise stated).

When reading the pattern, (_,_)*x means that you repeat the instructions in the bracket “x” number of times. For example, (Sc 1, Inc)*6 means to repeat (Sc 1, Inc) 6 times. The number in brackets at the end of each row is the total number of stitches you will have when you finish that row.

Pattern Instructions

Body

Using red:

Round 1: Sc 8 in a Magic Circle
*The Magic Circle can be difficult with bulky chenille yarn – you can also chain 2 and work Sc 8 into the first chain.

Round 2: Inc*8 (16)

Round 3: (Sc 7, Inc)*2 (18)

Round 4: (Inc 3, Sc 6)*2 (24)

Round 5: Sc around (24)

Switch to black:

Round 6: Working in the back loop only (BLO) Sc 6, (Ch 4, work 3 Sc down the chain, Sc into each of next 2 sts)*3, Sc 7, (Ch 4, work 3 Sc down the chain, Sc into each of next 2 sts)*2, Ch 4, work 3 SC down the chain, Sc into last stitch (24 + 6 legs – the legs are not part of the stitch count)

Round 7: (Sc 3, Dec)*6 (18)
*Make sure to just work into the Sc sts from Round 6, not into any of the chain sts from the legs.

Round 8: Dec*9 (9)

Finish off and sew up the hole. Weave in all ends.

Using red:

Turn the body upside down. Make a slip knot on your hook, insert the hook into the first leftover front loop from Round 6, and complete a Sc. Continue to Sc around in the front loops to make a ridge (24). At the end, Slip stitch into the first Sc to join, finish off, and weave in all ends.

Head

Using black:

Round 1: Sc 6 in a Magic Circle (or Ch 2 and Sc 6 into the first chain)

Round 2: (Sc 1, Inc)*3 (9)

Round 3: Sc around (9)

If you are going to use safety eyes, insert them now between Rounds 2 and 3, on either side of the head.

Round 4: (Sc 1, Dec)*3 (6)

Round 5: Sc around (6)

Finish off, leaving a long end.

Stuff the head. Press the sides of the top edges together to flatten the opening of the head and then sew straight across the opening to close it up.

If you are adding googly eyes, you can glue them on now or after the head is sewn onto the body.

Sew the head at the front of the body, underneath the red ridge. The front of the body is the opposite end to where you changed colour when making the body. There is a wider gap between the legs on this end, too, since there are more stitches between the two sets of legs.

Adding the Details

Embroider spots on the back:

Cut a long length of black yarn and embroider several spots on the back of the ladybug (I do 5-6 spots).

Embroider a line down the middle:

Cut a length of black yarn. Secure one end of the yarn with a couple of stitches under the ridge at the base of the head – make sure it is centered in relation to the head. Pull the yarn tightly over the middle of the ladybug and secure with a few stitches underneath the ridge at the back. Weave in all ends.

If you enjoyed this pattern, please consider purchasing the low-cost printable PDF version! You’ll receive a professionally formatted, ad-free PDF with photos to help you create your ladybug, and your support will help me to continue designing patterns for you.

If you have any questions about this pattern, please don’t hesitate to comment below or email me. And if you made your own Layla Ladybug I would love to see a picture on Instagram! Make sure to tag me so I don’t miss it, @waywardpineapplecreations.

© Wayward Pineapple Creations | Julia Simpson This pattern and all related images are copyright protected. You may sell items made from my patterns, but please do not copy/paste, distribute, or alter the pattern and claim it as your own.